2013 Lotus Exige S Roadster - 2012 Geneva Auto Show

A removable top makes this Exige perfect for a spring day. But only in Europe and Asia.

At the 2012 Geneva Auto Show, Lotus unveiled the Exige S Roadster. It's essentially an Exige hardtop model that has had its roof replaced by lightweight removable soft top unit for some sun-soaked fun.

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Equipped with a 345-bhp supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the Lotus Exige S hits 60 mph in a claimed 3.8 seconds and 100 in only 8.5. Top speed is listed at 145 mph. Handling or track prowess figures haven't been made available, but the chassis experts at Lotus won't let the lack of a fixed roof hurt performance in a major way. Lotus, after all, has the reputation of its engineering and racing departments to uphold.

2013 Lotus Exige S Roadster

Two transmission options will be available for the Exige S Roadster: a 6-speed manual or Lotus' Serial Precision Shift (SPS), a 6-speed paddle-shift automatic. Similarly, two suspension settings will also be offered: Standard and Race. The former setting is used for normal street operation, while the latter maximizes the performance of the sub-2425 lb. sports car for track duty. Race mode allows use of the car's launch control system, a handy aid for getting the featherweight Lotus off the line.

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2013 Lotus Exige S Roadster

As tempting as the Exige S Roadster may be to fans of Lotus, particularly with the spring season almost upon us, there is bad news. The Roadster will not be sold in the U.S. market. It seems the open-top Exige S was developed for the European and Asian markets. Some continents have all the luck.

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